I’m not big on relaxing. I find it difficult. There’s always a small voice in the back of my head yelling at me to quit slacking and get to work whenever I try being lazy. Even on my days off. I find it challenging to not be productive, like I’m wasting time. But in reality, relaxing is never a waste of time.
Taking a break to relax, be still and calm down actually helps you to be more focused and get more done in your day. William Dement and Nathaniel Kleitman, sleep researchers in the 1950s, discovered that we're only able to stay efficiently alert for about 90 minutes at a time before fatigue sets in. However most people (myself included) override this natural decline by pumping ourselves up with caffeine, sugar and our own emergency energy reserves (adrenaline), to plow through. This is not good for us.
In an ideal world, we'd work in 90 minute intervals with breaks between sessions. The breaks help to renew our energy, increase our focus, and increase our sense of well being, making us not only more productive but happier. Breaks could include anything from sitting in silence for five minutes, taking a brisk walk outside, listening to relaxing music, reading an uplifting book or taking a nap. Anything that gives you and your mind a break.
Relaxing is a skill and takes practice. But the benefits are huge and well worth the effort. Start by scheduling a 5 to 10 minute break every 90 minutes. Set an alarm if you need to. At the very least get up and walk around, stretch your body, look at something different and take a few deep cleansing breaths.
Break the guilt stopping your flurry of tasks by focusing instead on the benefits relaxing and taking a break bring to you and your life. Try it for a week and see for yourself what difference it makes.
Taking a break to relax, be still and calm down actually helps you to be more focused and get more done in your day. William Dement and Nathaniel Kleitman, sleep researchers in the 1950s, discovered that we're only able to stay efficiently alert for about 90 minutes at a time before fatigue sets in. However most people (myself included) override this natural decline by pumping ourselves up with caffeine, sugar and our own emergency energy reserves (adrenaline), to plow through. This is not good for us.
In an ideal world, we'd work in 90 minute intervals with breaks between sessions. The breaks help to renew our energy, increase our focus, and increase our sense of well being, making us not only more productive but happier. Breaks could include anything from sitting in silence for five minutes, taking a brisk walk outside, listening to relaxing music, reading an uplifting book or taking a nap. Anything that gives you and your mind a break.
Relaxing is a skill and takes practice. But the benefits are huge and well worth the effort. Start by scheduling a 5 to 10 minute break every 90 minutes. Set an alarm if you need to. At the very least get up and walk around, stretch your body, look at something different and take a few deep cleansing breaths.
Break the guilt stopping your flurry of tasks by focusing instead on the benefits relaxing and taking a break bring to you and your life. Try it for a week and see for yourself what difference it makes.
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